Kher goes down memory lane to pay tribute to father

Shimla: Images of the 1970s full of nostalgia were revived today as noted actor Anupam Kher went down memory lane at a function here to pay homage to his late father Pushkar Nath Kher.

Anupam`s father passed away at the age of 83 in Mumbai three months back. Kher, a native of Shimla, who came to Shimla for the first time after the death of his father, fondly remembered the moments spent with him as a child and said his father was so much in love with Shimla that he preferred to stay here for most of the time after his retirement. Kher said "positivity" was an esssential quality in his father`s personality. He said in the memory of his father, the family had decided to institute a cash award of Rs 1.5 lakh to be given to any individual contributing outstandingly in the field of creativity in Himachal. A function would be organised every year at Shimla fto give away the award and a selection committee would be constituted for selecting the awardee, he added. The state chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal paid floral tributes to Pushkar Nath Kher and said he was a prominent figure of Shimla, sociable, simple and full of zeal. "Kher had come to me and congratulated me for imposing ban on recycled polythene bags to keep Shimla town clean and had been instrumental in spreading message of love and harmony among the people", Dhumal said. D S Manhas, Director General of Police and Maninder Singh, a close friend of Anupam Kher also shared their memories. PTI